Bankruptcy Is Not A Four Letter Word

Currently, both bankruptcy and Covid-19 are spreading quickly. As we begin to see Fortune 500 companies file for bankruptcy due to Covid-19, it is a great time to remind ourselves that bankruptcy can be viewed as a business decision. In fact, filing bankruptcy is what saves many companies and enables them to thrive in the market post-bankruptcy. It is too early to tell whether companies filing bankruptcy now will bounce back; however, historically we do know that companies like Apple, General Motors, and Hostess all successfully bounced back with the help of a bankruptcy filing.

There are also famous individuals who filed bankruptcy and went on to great success. This was long before bankruptcy and Covid-19, but among them are Walt Disney, Donald Trump, and Abraham Lincoln. These individuals understood that bankruptcy is not a four letter word. If anything it is more akin to a seven letter word: F-R-E-E-D-O-M. The day you file bankruptcy is the day you play your ace card against oppressive creditors and accumulating debt.

Bankruptcy Is The First Step To Recovery

One common concern regarding a bankruptcy filing is how long it will take you to bounce back from bankruptcy. Truthfully, it is the bankruptcy filing that is the first step in recovery for a business or individual. The bankruptcy filing brushes back creditors and forces them into a plan the company can manage while they continue to conduct business. The same is true of a personal bankruptcy filing.

From the day you file bankruptcy, you get relief from creditors. They are no longer allowed to pursue you for collection of debts, or legal actions against you related to debt. As a result, you can finally breathe again. Your income is no longer being shoveled to creditors whose balances do not seem to move despite significant payments each month. Instead, you can use those funds to pay for the needs of yourself and your family. If you file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you will receive a discharge of your debts. If you file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you will enter into a re-payment plan which quite often requires you to pay less than 10% to your creditors spread out over a five year period.

As one of our favorite clients said in a recent review of the firm “Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 are just that: Chapters. They are not the entire book!”

Treat It Like A Business Decision

You can choose to view a bankruptcy filing as a business decision—or at least a financial one—for you and your family. Smart business owners put their emotions aside and do what has to be done for the health of the company. Most of our clients realize that bankruptcy is not an emotional experience; however, they do confess that it was their emotions that kept them from filing sooner. Unfortunately, this means months or years of payments to creditors on debts which are ultimately discharged in bankruptcy. If you act quickly, you can avoid spending any additional money on unsecured debt which will be addressed with one bankruptcy fee and one bankruptcy filing.

The bankruptcy court has remained open despite Covid-19, allowing debtors to move forward with their financial recoveries. Most hearings are done over the telephone at this time, which is a great convenience for all parties and a wonderful solution as the courts are busier each month with bankruptcy filings.

Take The Next Step

The next step is simple. Call us to speak with an attorney. The call is free and you deserve to understand your options. We can be reached at 704.749.7747. We are happy to answer questions about bankruptcy and Covid-19. Or, you can click HERE to request a consultation by filling out a very short form.

Watch A Short Video

If you’d like to know a little more about the firm, watch this short one minute Introductory Video by Chris Layton. We know you have choices. We hope you choose Layton Law.